Island Cycles:
Something for everyone
News from the Vancouver Island Cycle Tourism
Alliance
July, 2005
- Seniors take the
Island
- Media search for cycling
experiences on the Island
- John's blog
- Map
discovery
- Events
- Rides Board
- New York
journal
Seniors on a roll: Elderhostels, a tour operator specializing in trips for active
seniors brought a big group of cyclists in from the U.S. to ride Victoria and
other Island destinations. The group was out on their warm-up ride during
Bike to Work Week. Don't think they expected so much congestion on a bike
trail! Find out more at: http://www.elderhostel.org/welcome/home.asp
Media Search: Tourism British Columbia came looking for facts on the mountain
biking experience on Vancouver Island. The profile sent out to
5,000 media contacts focuses on Hartland Mountain Bike park
north of Victoria, Mt. Wasington Alpine Resort and their chairlift-assisted
gonzo biking and the more sedate trails popular with cycling visitors like
the Galloping Goose in Victoria. Hornby Island, one of the many popular
Gulf Islands dotting the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the
lower Mainland rated the most glowing prose.
Elsewhere, Vancouver's revived alternative transportation mag "Momentum"
features a column on Island cycling by VICTA coordinator John Luton, the big
city Detroit Free Press featured Victoria and the city's Seaside Touring Route
for cyclists. The Seattle Times was also working on a story
about weekend cycling getaways to our idyllic Gulf Islands. The
Spirit of Canada, a UK publication, also profiled cycling on the Island.
John's Blog: Where has my
bike taken me lately? Got out to the Saanich Peninsula during strawberry
season in June. Sweet! Ambled through the Cowichan Valley a few
weeks back. Picked up a nice bottle of red from one of the many wineries
in the "Warmland", as the locals know it. Got caught in the rain on the
way back from a round trip to Sooke, but who cares? Getting in 100k mid
week is always a treat.
Map discovery: Well it's
not really new, but the Mussio Ventures Backroads Mapbook of Vancouver Island
was a handy tool for picking out unexplored routes on the way back from the
Cowichan. A new edition is out this spring. Current stock is
available from VICTA for $18 + shipping. Lots of other commercial maps
available by mail order. Check out the maps page at
www.cyclevancouverisland.ca
Walk Too: Spend some time
off the bike. A new walking map of downtown Victoria has hit the
streets. Six one hour loops are featured in the map released by
Victoria's Capital Bike and Walk Society (
www.capitalbikeandwalk.org).
Find out how to get yours from
johnluton@shaw.ca For businesses who
want to distribute the free map, boxes and boxes are avaialble.
Events: There's always
something on for the ambitious cyclist. John Clisby, who manages
Victoria's Best Western Carleton Plaza downtown will probably be there.
He's a serious triathlete. Told me he does the Seattle to Portland ride
(325 km) in one day. Guess he can't miss too much work. Try and keep
up with the triathletes and duathletes at the Juan de Fuca Recreation
Duathlon September 25, 2005. (
www.jdfrecreation.com) or ride for a
cause at the Fort St. Cycle Triathlon of Compassion on Sunday, July 17 and raise
money for the Women's Sexual Assault Centre (
www.runnersofcompassion.com).
Not so fast?
The Rona MS Bike Tour: "The
Cowichan Valley Grape Escape" August 6 & 7, 2005 Explore from
Mill Bay through the Cowichan Valley to the Glenora wine region northwest of
Victoria, gateway to Vancouver Island. The Island is the MS Society's
favoured destination for hundreds of expected tour participants. Last year
the top 50 fundraisers across North America chose Victoria for their own bike
tour. $120,000 was raised through the Island event in
2004. Help the cause and join the ride at: www.msbiketours.com
Rides Board: Bryan
Henderson is a Vancouver Island cyclist looking for group rides for recumbent
bikes. (For those that don't know what that is, recumbents are not the
traditional diamond style bike frame, but a low slung, laid back bike with
a relaxed and comfortable riding position). Talk to Bryan at:
bcinbc2004@yahoo.ca. Bryan rides
in the Ladysmith area.
New York Journal: Carol
came with her Swift Folder, packed it into her room at the Empress and then took
it out to Sooke, Port Renfrew, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Tofino for some local
rides around Island locations. Her approach to touring was pure cycling -
spend $50 a night on accommodation and $100 a day on food!
Chocolate: Get your
calories here. Send your winningest pictures of cycling on Vancouver
Island to
johnluton@shaw.ca and win a box
of Roger's Chocolates. Roger's addicts (I'm one), will know this is a rich
reward. Scratch & sniff at:
www.rogerschocolates.com/
My pic this month - lots of cyclists cruised to downtown
Victoria for the Tall Ships Festival. More than 20 vessels slipped into
the Inner Harbour and for cyclists heading to the event - valet bike parking by
Chain, Chain, Chain of Victoria.
Island
Cycles
is published by:
John Luton, 22
Philippa Place; Victoria, BC; V8S 1S6; 250-592-4753/250-886-4166 (cell)
johnluton@shaw.ca
Coordinator,
Vancouver Island Cycle Tourism Alliance. Visit us at: www.cyclevancouverisland.ca